Winding apparatus for use in synthetic thread spinning machines



y 1962 H, SCHIPPERS ETAL 3,036,784

WINDING APPARATUS FOR USE IN SYNTHETIC THREAD SPINNING MACHINES FiledSept. 22. 1958 INVENTORS: H EIN Z SCHIPPERS WOLFGANG WEBER M ATT'YSrates This invention, in general relates to thread-winding apparatus andarrangements thereof which are adapted for use in machines for spinningsynthetic filaments or threads.

The basic design of thread-winding apparatus used in spinning machineshas been the arrangement of individual winding devices in horizontalrows in one or more tiers. The basic and most commonly used arrangementis one in which the winding spools, bobbins, etc., and reciprocablethread-laying devices extend from one side of a vertical wall extendingover the length of the spinning machine. The motor and drive assembliesare positioned on the back or opposite side of the wall, primarily tobetter protect these parts against moisture resulting from the spinningoperation. The floor space given to this type of machine must alsoinclude an aisle on the front side of the machine for the operatorthereof as well as a special aisle or passage on the rear side of themachine to provide for maintenance of the motor and drive assemblies.While the machine wall fulfills the function of a separating wall, thisarrangement is troublesome during replacements of individualthread-winding apparatus or even the entire spinning spool section. Inthe latter case, it is usually necessary to shut down the spinningoperation in immediately adjacent positions for a period of time.

The primary object of this invention is to provide improvements in theconstruction and arrangement of thread-winding apparatus to be used inconjunction with spinning machines for spinning synthetic threads orfilaments. These improvements relate to the reduction in time forinterchanging defective parts of the thread-wind ing section of thespinning machine, which replacements may be made Without shutting oh thespinning process. Furthermore, the improvements also relate to betterutilization of floor space by the spinning machines.

In accordance with our invention, the winding portion of thread orfilament spinning machines is com posed of individual winding deviceswherein each winding device is an independently operable unit assembledon a long machine frame and readily removable therefrom. Each unit hasan individual drive or drives for its rotatable winding element and itsreciprocating thread-laying device. In this form, the thread-windingunits may be placed in and taken out of a frame as needs dictate.

The parts of each winding unit which do not come into direct contactwith the thread being wound are preferably all placed inside the unitframe or housing. The parts of the unit which come into contact with thethread project from the front side of the unit frame or housing in adirection perpendicular to the length of the total machine. Each unithas a block-shaped supporting structure, which may take the form of anopen frame, a frame with side plates, or a housing which is closed onall sides.

Another feature of the invention which contributes a space-savingadvantage is in the construction of the thread-winding carrier and drivetherefor with the commonly employed friction roller drive for thethread-winding carrier, which is rotatably driven by the drive rollerthrough frictional contact. As hereinafter described, it is advantageousto make the winding carrier laterally I atent movable with the driveroller rotatably mounted in a fixed position. By this arrangement, thethread path from the thread supply rollers or godets to the windingcarrier remains constant. Heretofore, the thread path was displacedangularly as the winding on the thread carrier became greater. Inaccordance with our invention, the contact point of the thread at thefriction drive roller and the winding remains constantthe increase indiameter of the winding being compensated by the lateral movement of thewinding carrier and its winding as the diameter increases. We have foundthis construction of advantage in the maintenance of uniformthread-winding conditions.

Still another features of our invention is the provision of constructionwhich permits the simultaneous winding on a given thread-winding unit ofa plurality of individually separated windings. In winding constructionsheretofore employed, wherein a number of separate windings are providedadjacent each other on a winding carrier, the carrier was positionedalong the length of the machine. In accordance with our invention, thewinding carrier projects perpendicular to the length of the machine.This arrangement is advantageous over that previously described becauseit is more economical with respect to tfloor space occupied on acomparable basis.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation showing the arrangement of severalthread-winding units positioned in horizontal rows and in tiers on themachine frame;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an individual threadwinding unit with thetop cover of the housing removed; and

FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional view illustrating the mounting of thewinding carrier in the thread-winding unit.

Groups of synthetic filaments T from the spinning heads of the spinningmachine are conducted in common over driven godet rollers 10, 12 and arethereafter conducted individually or in groups to the thread-windingunits and thereon wound. Each thread-winding unit is composed of aclosed housing 14, which is block-shaped in external configuration.Extending outwardly from the front side of the housing is a windingcarrier 16, in this case having a cylindrical shape. Also extending fromthe front of the housing 14 and parallel with the winding carrier 16 isa roller 62. The roiler s2 is rotatably driven by a drive motor mountedinside the roller 62. The drive motor consists of a rotor 18 rotatablymounted about a central, fixed stator 20. The outside rotor 18 issecured to the roller 62thereby driving the roller 62 upon energizationof the electric motor.

The winding carrier 16 is mounted for free rotation on supporting shaftor axle 22, which extends outwardly from the housing 14 in a directionperpendicular to the length of the machine frame. To provide alaterallymovable mounting for the winding carrier 16, the shaft or axle22 is connected in fixed relationship with arm 24 of a slidably mountedsupport bearing 26. The support bearing 26 is slidably mounted on acylindrical slide rod 28, which is supported in fixed position by rodsupport brackets 30, 32 on the front inner wall of the housing 14.

To maintain frictional contact between the drive roller 62 and thethread-winding or windings on thread carrier 16, the movable windingcarrier and support therefor is urged laterally toward the drive roller62 by a helical compression spring 34 positioned about the rod 28between the slidable support bearing 26 and the support bracket 30. Ahor zontal, elongated slot 36 in the front wall of the housing 14,through which extends shaft 22 and arm 24, permits the winding carrier16 and associated support parts to move back and forth.

The details of the slidable mounting of the support bearing 26 on sliderod 28 are shown in FIG. 3. The support bearing 26 has two or more ballbearing races 38 containing ball bearings 40. These ball bearings bearon the slide rod 28 to provide relatively free movement of thesupporting bearing 26 on the slide rod 28.

To maintain the winding carrier 16 and its support parts in a horizontalposition, means is provided to prevent the support bearing from rotatingwith respect to the slide rod 28. One means for achieving this result isthe provision of a second arm 42 on the support bearing 26. On the lowerend of the arm 42 is rotatably mounted a wheel 44, which, in turn, moveslongitudinally through a U-shaped track 46. This arrangement preventsrotation of the support bearing 26 with respect to the slide rod 28.

The thread is wound on the winding carrier in circumferential layers byguiding the thread path back and forth across the carrier during thewinding operation. In the embodiment illustrated, two separate threadwindings, T and T are made on the thread carrier 16. This is done byproviding thread guide forks 48 and 50 immediately above the point ofcontact between the thread windings and the drive roller 62. The guideforks 43 and 56) are reciprocated to form thread windings T and Trespectively, by reciprocable arm 52. The arm 52 is reciprocally mountedin a bearing 54 positioned inside the housing 14.

Reciprocal motion is imparted to the arm 52 through a pin 56 extendingradially outwardly from arm 52. The pin 56 rides in a peripheral,endless groove 58 of cylinder 60the groove lying in a plane disposedangularly with respect to the axis of the cylinder 60. The cylinder 60is driven by an electric motor composed of a fixed, inner stator and arotatable outer rotor like that previously described. The motor (notshown) is positioned inside the cylinder 60 and the cylinder 60 ismounted for rotation with the rotor of this motor.

To facilitate power connection to the electric motor, there is providedon the rear face of the housing 14 electrical contacts 64, 66. Thesemale contacts are connected with aligned, female contacts 67 in powersupply lines 69 mounted along the frame of the machine. The contacts 64are connected directly to the motor inside the cylinder 60, and thecontacts 66 are connected with the rotor 18 and stator 20 of the motorinside the friction roller 62 by means of electrical conductors 77.

The supporting structure for the individual threadwinding unitscomprises horizontal frame plates or bars 68, 70, which are spaced toprovide horizontal tiers into which the thread-winding units are placed.At spaced intervals along each frame member 68, 7 t} are positionedvertical spacer plates 72. The frame members 68, 70 with their spacerplates 72 form compartments into which are inserted the individualthread-winding units, whose insertion in correct alignment is madepossible by the provision of side rollers 74 and bottom rollers 76sounted in the side walls and bottom wall of the housing 14,respectively. If desired, other guiding parts such as slide runners, maybe used in place of the rollers 74 and 76.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the inventionprovides closely nested, individual threadwinding units which maybeeasily replaced or rearranged. Because each thread-winding unit has athread-winding carrier which is movable laterally, the thread pathbetween the godet roller 12 and the point of contact of thethread-winding T and/or T with the drive roller 62 remains constant.This permits closer horizontal spacing of the winding units, because itis not necessary to make allowances for angular displacement of thethread running between upper units to a lower thread-winding unit.

Besides space-saving advantages, the replacement for repair or servicingof an individual unit is a simple operation, which can be carried out insuch a short period of time that the thread-spinning process does nothave to be shut down. Also, the block-type construction of theindividual units makes possible widely variable arrangements of theunits in one or more rows and, in some cases, in a two-sided, back toback arrangement. In units wherein two or more windings are made on onecarrier, the perpendicular disposition of the winding carrier to thelength of the machine has more than doubled the capacity of a similarmachine, wherein the winding carrier is disposed parallel with thelength of the machine. V

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A thread-winding unit having self-contained driving means comprisinga block-shaped housing with a thread carrier support extending outwardlytherefrom, a friction drive roller having a fixed axis of rotationextending outwardly from said housing adjacent said carrier support insubstantially parallel relationship therewith, a first electric motorcontained in said unit and operatively connected to said roller forrotatably driving said roller, means on said housing mounting saidcarrier support for movement toward and away from said drive roller,means for urging said carrier support toward said drive roller,reciprocable thread-laying means adjacent said thread carrier supportand extending from said housing substantially parallel with said threadcarrier support, and a second electric motor mounted in said housingdrivingly connected to said thread-laying means.

2. The thread-winding unit of claim 1 wherein said first electric motorhas a central stator and an outer rotor positioned inside said roller.

3. A filament winding machine comprising a frame with frame membersproviding superposed horizontal tiers, means dividing each tier intosubstantially equal size compartments, a compact thread-winding unit ineach compartment horizontally slidable into and out of said compartment,each unit having a block-shaped housing with rotatable thread-windingmeans extending outwardly from one side thereof, reciprocablethread-laying means adjacent said thread-winding means and extendingfrom said side substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of saidthread-winding means, each unit further having self-contained electricmotor drive means for rotating said thread-winding means and for drivingsaid reciprocable thread-laying means, and electric contacts for saidelectric motor drive means releasably engaged with cooperating powersource electric contacts positioned in each compartment, whereby eachunit of the block form assembly of said units on said frame is operableindependently of the other units and one unit can be replaced with asimilar unit quickly without shutting down the whole thread-windingmachine or stopping the supply of filaments to the winding machine.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the block-shaped housing of each unithas guide means on each side thereof cooperating with said meansdividing each of said rows into said compartments for proper positioningof each unit in a compartment.

5. A filament winding machine comprising a frame with frame membersproviding superposed horizontal tiers, means dividing each tier intosubstantially equal size compartments staggered with relation to thecompartments of the next adjacent tier, a compact threadwinding unit ineach compartment horizontally slidable into and out of said compartment,each unit having a block-shaped housing with a thread carrier supportextending outwardly therefrom, a friction drive roller having a fixedaxis of rotation extending outwardly from said housing adjacent saidcarrier support in substantially parallel relationship therewith, meanson said housing mounting said carrier support for reciprocal movementtoward and away from said drive roller, means for urging said carriersupport toward said drive roller, reciprocable thread-laying meansadjacent said thread-winding means and extending from said sidesubstantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said thread-windingmeans, each unit further having self-contained electric motor drivemeans for rotating said friction drive roller and driving saidreciprocable, thread-laying means and electric contacts for saidelectric motor drive means releasably engaged with cooperating powersource electric contacts positioned in each compartment, whereby eachunit out the block form assembly of said units on said frame is operableindependently of the other units and one unit can be replaced quicklywith a similar unit without shutting down the whole thread-windingmachine or stopping the supply of filaments to the winding machine.

6 A filament winding machine comprising a frame with frame membersproviding superposed horizontal tiers, means dividing each tier intosubstantially equal size compartments staggered with relation to thecornpartments of the next adjacent tier, a compact thread- Winding unitin each compartment horizontally slidable into and out of saidcompartment, each unit comprising a block-shaped housing with a threadcarrier support extending outwardly therefrom, a friction drive rollerhaving a fixed axis of rotation extending outwardly from said housingadjacent said carrier support in substantially parallel relationshiptherewith, a first electric motor contained in said unit and operativelyconnected to said roller for rotatably driving said roller, means onsaid housing mounting said carrier support for movement toward and awayfrom said drive roller, means for urging said carrier support towardsaid drive roller, reoiprocable thread-laying means adjacent said threadcarrier support and extending from said housing substantially parallelwith said thread carrier support, a second electric motor mounted insaid housing drivingly connected to said thread-laying means, andelectric contacts for said first electric motor and said second electricmotor releasably engaged with cooperating power source electriccont-acts positioned in each compartment whereby each unit of the blockform assembly of said units on said frame is operable independently ofthe other units and one unit can be replaced quickly with a similar unitwithout shutting down the whole thread-Winding machine or stopping thesupply of filaments to the winding machine.

7. In a filament Winding machine, a winding carrier rotatably supportedon a shaft, a power-driven, rotatable friction roller adjacent to andparallel with said winding. carrier, a slide rod at one end of saidthread carrier and positioned substantially transversely to the axis ofsaid carrier, a bearing non-rotatably and slidably mounted on said sliderod, said shaft being rigidly mounted on said bearing and supportedthereby whereby said bearing, shaft and Winding carrier are reciprocableas a unit along said slide rod toward and away from said firictionroller, and bias means operable on said unit for urging said unit towardsaid friction roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

